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DRY DOG · CHICKEN

Instinct

Original Grain-Free Real Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food 25 lb Adult

82/ 100
— Good —
AAFCO ✓NO ACTIVE RECALLS
THE VERDICT

A top-tier choice. Strong nutritional profile, clean ingredient list, and a solid safety record.

The Chowmark Score is an editorial assessment based on public data and our published methodology. Not a guarantee of product safety. Always consult your veterinarian. Disclaimer.

CRUDE PROTEIN
37%
Above AAFCO min.
RECALLS
0
None on record.
ADVERSE REPORTS
0
None filed with FDA.
SCORE UNPACKED

Five categories. Weighted by what matters.

Nutritional Adequacy
87· 30%

Yes — meets AAFCO minimum nutrient profiles for the stated life stage.

Does the guaranteed analysis meet AAFCO minimum nutrient profiles for the stated life stage?

Ingredient Quality
82· 30%

Yes — named whole proteins and whole foods lead the ingredient list, with minimal fillers.

Are named whole proteins, whole grains, and whole vegetables the primary ingredients, with minimal fillers or artificial additives?

Safety & Recalls
78· 20%

Clean record — no FDA Class I/II recalls or significant adverse event reports in the past five years.

Has this brand been subject to FDA or CFIA recalls, Class I/II actions, or adverse event reports in the past five years?

Evidence Base
74· 10%

Partial — some evidence of nutritional research, but feeding trial data is limited or not publicly available.

Does the brand publish AAFCO feeding trials, employ board-certified veterinary nutritionists, or fund peer-reviewed research?

Label Transparency
89· 10%

Yes — label includes a complete guaranteed analysis, named ingredient sources, and country-of-origin disclosure.

Does the label include a complete guaranteed analysis, named ingredient sources, and country-of-origin disclosure? Canadian labelling law does not require nutritional adequacy statements — a product can claim "complete and balanced" without meeting any government-verified standard.

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TOP 8 INGREDIENTS

In plain English.

Ranked by quantity, with the why behind each one.

01
chickenEXCELLENT
02
Chicken mealEXCELLENT
03
PeasGOOD
04
Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid)ACCEPTABLE
05
TapiocaACCEPTABLE
06
Ground flaxseedACCEPTABLE
07
Natural flavorACCEPTABLE
08
ChickpeasGOOD

Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission on purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Our scores are never influenced by affiliate relationships. Learn more.

WHERE TO BUY

Where to get it.

Live prices · We earn a commission · Never influences our scores

🇺🇸United States

Prices last checked just now · Same-day options shown first when available

From $25.99
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